Blog entries about exterior decorating issues
We hear a lot about the value of a fresh coat of paint to raise property resale price, but according to survey we value artistic expression above mere profit, and only 4% of homeowners paint for that reason. Fifty-five percent just want a different look, and the main reason homeowners decide to paint is a…
This is the time of year when you might start to notice any defects or problems with your external decorating. Cold weather, high winds, frost and heavy rainfall are going to expose any frailties in the protection that external paintwork is supposed to give to wooden window and door frames, and the soffits beneath the…
When I was just a lad, I convinced my Dad to let me decorate my own room. Today, as my bank account waves farewell to yet another mortgage payment, I spare my Dad a thought as I think what the orange wallpaper and purple paint did to the value of the family home. Regular readers…
I was pleased to see a story in the Daily Telegraph comparing various home improvements, and estimating the added value each of them puts on your property. Yes, it’s official – decorating is one of the most cost-efficient ways of adding property value. The online tool takes your property value, the amount you might spend…
With Wimbledon just down the road from our offices, and the best summer since – well, since last year – it can be hard to stay tuned in to work. Thankfully, the weather is perfect for exterior painting and you, dear customer, are keeping us busy. And so you should – it’s the perfect time…
People who value my opinion – yes, both of them – sometimes want to know what’s the best way to prepare for the decorators. Apart from leaving the country, I tell them, there are some sensible things to bear in mind. We’ll assume that you already know what paint you want, that you have chosen…
Despite very strict planning laws, we’re famous in London for the way we put modernist buildings next to fabulous old buildings. Somehow, it all seems work. House prices have also driven owners to add extensions, often using the same mixture of new and old. Personally, I think it works very well most of the time….
Our good friends in the weather service are predicting plenty of rain and storms for this winter. No-one has ruled out a plague of woolly mammoths. The last really wet winter caused all manner of problems in properties across London, and this is the time of year to start preparing for the onslaught. Even a mild London…
I like to think I’m a manly sort of man. I know which end of a screwdriver to hold, and I have plenty of good words for when electrical items don’t work. So I was drawn to a website called “The Art of Manliness” – just to see if they had it right, you understand….
One of these days I’m going to get lucky. I’ll get home early on Friday, the sun’s still shining on my garden, the barbecue has been lit & my favourite beverage is chilling gently in the fridge. I always seem to fall at the same hurdle; getting home early. But I’m working on it. But the view…
All this rain is causing damp problems to homes all over London, even in areas which have avoided flooding. I hope you’ve not had any serious damage, but I thought you might want to know the main things to watch out for. Water can get into walls through various ways, including: Cracked or missing roof tiles Gaps around door and window frames Breaks in…
Sales of green paint have been going well since my last newsletter (in case you missed it, it’s supposed to be the paint equivalent of viagra). But I thought I should raise the tone a little. We sometimes find houses with old paint finishes that haven’t been redecorated since the 70’s, and often enough we…
It’s summer, so I thought I’d write about wet rot. Poor preparation and painting (and neglect) of timber door and window frames is bad news for your property, but it’s good news for fungi. Poor painting means your wood gets wet, and wet wood gives fungus both a hearty meal and a cosy home. In…
Here in the South we seem to be moving towards Spring, despite the pictures I saw of cars in Yorkshire stranded in the snow. It’s a good time of year to take stock of a home and look at what jobs will need to be done, including decorating jobs of course. External paintwork What should you look for…
This kind of weather makes people worry about everything from burst pipes to collapsing roofs. It also makes my workmen fight over who gets to work in the warmest houses. But there are points to watch out for in a cold snap that could save nasty bills later, so I thought I’d pass on what…
